Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 7:13
And one of his servants answered and said, Let [some] take, I pray thee, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city, (behold, they [are] as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it: behold, [I say], they [are] even as all the multitude of the Israelites that are consumed: ) and let us send and see.
13. five of the horses ] ‘Five’ is probably used indefinitely to mean some small number. That ‘five’ may be thus used seems likely from Gen 43:34; Num 11:19.
behold, they are as all the multitude ] The sense of the speaker seems to be: the men sent out as spies, if they be taken and slain, will be no worse off than those that remain behind, for these are consumed with famine and will soon be dead. And if they find the news true they are enough to make sure of the matter, and to bring word into the city.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Behold … – The Septuagint and a large number of the Hebrew MSS. omit the clause, behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it. But the text followed by our translators, which is that of the best maunscripts, is intelligible and needs no alteration. It is merely a prolix way of stating that the horsemen will incur no greater danger by going to reconnoitre than the rest of their countrymen by remaining in the city, since the whole multitude is perishing.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 13. And one of his servants answered] This is a very difficult verse, and the great variety of explanations given of it cast but little light on the subject. I am inclined to believe, with Dr. Kennicott, that there is an interpolation here which puzzles, if not destroys, the sense. “Several instances,” says he, “have been given of words improperly repeated by Jewish transcribers, who have been careless enough to make such mistakes, and yet cautious not to alter or erase, for fear of discovery. This verse furnishes another instance in a careless repetition of seven Hebrew words, thus: –
The exact English of this verse is this: And the servant said, Let them take now five of the remaining horses, which remain in it; behold they are as all the multitude of Israel, which [remain in it; behold they are as all the multitude of Israel which] are consumed; and let us send and see.
“Whoever considers that the second set of these seven words is neither in the Septuagint nor Syriac versions, and that those translators who suppose these words to be genuine alter them to make them look like sense, will probably allow them to have been at first an improper repetition; consequently to be now an interpolation strangely continued in the Hebrew text.” They are wanting in more than forty of Kennicott’s and De Rossi’s MSS. In some others they are left without points; in others they have been written in, and afterwards blotted out; and in others four, in others five, of the seven words are omitted. De Rossi concludes thus: Nec verba haec legunt LXX., Vulg., Syrus simplex, Syrus Heptaplaris Parisiensis, Targum. They stand on little authority, and the text should be read, omitting the words enclosed by brackets, as above.
They are consumed] The words asher tamu should be translated, which are perfect; i.e., fit for service. The rest of the horses were either dead of the famine, killed for the subsistence of the besieged, or so weak as not to be able to perform such a journey.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
So the sense is, We may well venture these horses, though we have no more, because both they and we are ready to perish through hunger; and therefore let us use them whilst we may for our common good, or to make the discovery. But the repetition of the phrase seems to imply something more emphatical and significant than the saving of four or five horses, for which it is not probable they would be so much concerned in their circumstances. The words therefore may be reordered otherwise, Behold, they are of a truth (the Hebrew prefix caph being not here a note of similitude, as the other translations make it, and as it is commonly used; but an affirmation of the truth and certainty of the things, as it is taken Num 11:1; Deu 9:10; Hos 4:4; 5:10; Joh 1:14)
all the multitude of the horses of Israel that are left in it (to wit, in the city); behold, I say, they are even all the multitude of the horses of the Israelites which (i.e. which multitude) are consumed, i.e. reduced to this small number, all consumed except these five. And thus the vulgar Latin, and some others, understand it. And this was indeed a memorable passage, and worthy of a double
behold, to show what mischief the famine had done both upon men and beasts, and to what a low ebb the king of Israel was come, that all his troops of horses, to which he had trusted, were shrunk to so small a number.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And one of his servants answered and said, let some take, I pray thee, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city,…. Not having died through the famine as the rest:
behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it; behold, I say, they are even as the multitude of Israel that are consumed; signifying, there was a like consumption among the horses as among the people, and they that remained were starving as they were; so that should those horses, and the men, fall into the hands of the Syrians, and perish, it would be no great matter; the loss would not be much, since they must perish if they continue in the city: according to the Vulgate Latin version, these five horses were all that were left:
and let us send and see; whether the report of the lepers is true or not.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(13) Let some take.Literally, And (i.e., then) let them take. (Comp. 2Ki. 2:9; 2Ki. 4:41.)
Five.Used as an indefinite small number, like our half a dozen. (Comp. Lev. 26:8; Isa. 30:17.) The actual number taken was two pairs (2Ki. 7:14).
The horses that remain, which are left in the city.Literally, the remaining horses that remain in it. The repetition dwells pathetically on the fewness of those that survive. Instead of in it, the LXX. and Arabic read here, which may be right, as the two Hebrew terms closely resemble each other.
Behold, they are as all . . . consumed.The kings adviser supposes two contingencies: the horses (and their drivers) may return safe, in which case they share the fortune of all the multitude of Israel that are left (i.e., have survived the famine, but are likely to die of it); or they may be taken and slain by the enemy, in which case they will be even as all the multitude that are consumed (i.e., by the famine and fighting). The sense is thus the same as in 2Ki. 7:4. The servant is not much more sanguine than the king: he says, They have to perish in any case; whether here by famine, or there by the sword, makes little difference. However it may turn out, nothing worse can happen to the men we send out than has already happened to many others, or than will yet happen to the rest. But perhaps Reuss is right in seeing here simply a reference to the wretched condition of the horses. Quattendre de chevaux qui sont extnues de faim? A natural doubt whether the starving animals are adequate to the service required of them. Consumed, then, means spent, exhausted.
The multitude of Israel.The article with the first word in the Hebrew is the error of a transcriber, who, as often occurs, wrote the same letter twice.
The Israelites.Israel. Syriac: Let them bring five of the horsemen who are left: if they are taken, they are accounted of as all the people of Israel who have perished; and let us send and see.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
13. They are as all the multitude Or, they will be as all the multitude That is, all of us in this city are about to perish with famine, and they who go forth to spy the camp of the enemy can fare no worse than we. In the worst that may befall them they will not be likely to suffer more than the rest of us who remain. This reasoning was like that of the lepers in 2Ki 7:4.
Behold, I say This repetition is wanting in the Septuagint and Syriac versions, and in several Hebrew MSS, and some have thought it spurious, and to be omitted. But it seems to have been purposely inserted to intensify the thought of the deplorable and perishing condition of the inhabitants of Samaria.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Ki 7:13. Behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel, &c. It will not happen otherwise to them than to all the multitude of Israel, which now remains, or to all the multitude of Israel, which now perishes: that is to say, “Whatever happens to them, they will be in the same condition with us; for if they survive, we shall survive, but if they perish, we shall perish also.” Houbigant.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
With what caution and fear did the king of Israel and his poor besieged army proceed in this business! With what doubts and misgivings, do sinners, when first coming to the Lord Jesus, seek his face! Oh! for faith in full confidence, to come to the Lord Jesus, and cast the whole soul Upon him! the sale of the flour and the barley corresponding to the prophet’s prediction, shows how the mercy was from the Lord, and how plentiful a mercy it was. A measure of flour was somewhat more than a peck. And a shekel was not much more in value than about two shillings of our money. Here, indeed, the subject of plenty to the famished, as it relates to the body, falls far short of the gospel fullness to famishing souls; for the grace which is imparted according to the measure of the gift of grace, is without money and without price.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Ki 7:13 And one of his servants answered and said, Let [some] take, I pray thee, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city, (behold, they [are] as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it: behold, [I say], they [are] even as all the multitude of the Israelites that are consumed:) and let us send and see.
Ver. 13. Five of the horses. ] These five were either all or the most that remained alive, and haply uneaten.
Behold, they are all,
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
that are left . . . Israelites. These words are repeated by Homoeoteleuton (instead of omitted, as is usually the case with Homoeoteleuton). They are not in many codices, or Septuagint, Syriac, or Vulgate. This accounts for the parenthesis in Authorized Version.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
2Ki 7:13-15
2Ki 7:13-15
THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE REALITY OF THE DELIVERANCE
“And one of his servants answered and said, Let some take, I pray thee, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city (behold, they are as all left the multitude of Israel that are left in it, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are consumed); and let us send and see. They took therefore two chariots with horses; and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, Go and see. And they went after them unto the Jordan: and, lo, all the way was full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. And the messengers returned and told the king.”
The king’s investigating party went all the way to the Jordan River and returned, a distance of some forty miles (round trip), which means that the confirmation of the tremendous miracle probably took place in Samaria early in the morning. One can only imagine the panic of all the people and the stampede of the whole city to plunder the rich remains of the Syrian encampment!
E.M. Zerr:
2Ki 7:13. A servant had a plan for testing the purpose of the Syrians. They are as all the multitude. This means that this small number could learn the ,true state of affairs just as well as the whole number in the city could if they went. If these five horsemen were sent out on this “suicide” sort of mission and were slain, they would not be any worse off than the ones who remained in the city. On the other hand, if they survived, their discovery would result in the preservation of the other citizens.
2Ki 7:14. The suggestion pleased the king and he adopted the plan in principle. He selected just two, however, for they would answer the purpose as well as five. He commanded them to go and discover the real situation.
2Ki 7:15. The camp of the Syrians was near the city of Samaria, since they had been conducting a siege of that place. But they had fled their camp, and the two horsemen would need to track them some distance to get the information desired by the king. They kept up the pursuit as far as Jordan. That was not the direction they naturally would have taken, for the country of the Syrians was north of Samaria. But they were panic stricken and doubtless had taken the direction that first appeared to them. And the two men in pursuit were guided in their chase by the articles that the enemy had strewn along the way In their hasty flight.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
one: 2Ki 5:13
in the city: Heb. in it
they are even: 2Ki 7:4, 2Ki 6:33, Jer 14:18, Lam 4:9
Reciprocal: Gen 43:8 – that we
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ki 7:13. Let some, I pray thee, take five of the horses, &c. The sense seems to be, We may well venture these five horses, though we have no more, because both they and we are ready to perish with hunger: let us, therefore, use them while we may, for our common good, or to make the discovery. Behold, they are as the multitude of Israel The words may be rendered, Behold, they are of a truth (the Hebrew prefix, Caph, being not here a note of similitude, but an affirmation of the truth and certainty of the things, as it is taken Num 11:1; Deu 9:10) all the multitude of the horses of Israel that are left in it: behold, I say, they are even all the multitude of the horses of the Israelites, which (which multitude) are consumed, reduced to this small number, all consumed except these five. And this was indeed worthy of a double behold, to show what mischief the famine had done both upon men and beasts, and to what a low ebb the king of Israel was come, that all his troops of horses, to which he had trusted, were shrunk to so small a number.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
7:13 And one of his servants answered and said, Let [some] take, I pray thee, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city, (behold, they [are] as all the {i} multitude of Israel that are left in it: behold, [I say], they [are] even as all the multitude of the Israelites that are consumed:) and let us send and see.
(i) There are no more left, but they, or the rest are consumed by the famine, as the rest of the people.